Grant Hurless of Oddbird Non-Alcoholic Wine and Jess Gamble, chef de cuisine at KR Steakbar, lead the Atlanta chapter and have a standing date every Monday morning. With multiple years of sobriety and hospitality experience between them, they lead the local chapter of Ben's Friends.
Ben’s Friends is a support group for members of the food and beverage industry. Founded in 2016 by hospitality veterans Steve Palmer and Mickey Bakst, the mission of Ben’s Friends is to offer hope, fellowship and a path forward to anyone who struggles with substance abuse and addiction. The organization is named in honor of Ben Murray, a chef who took his own life in 2016 after struggling with alcoholism.
Ben’s Friends models acceptance and gratitude, and though unaffiliated with AA or NA, these organizations share an important principle: the only thing you need to bring to a meeting is the desire to stop drinking or using. Ben’s Friends provides a safe haven for workers in an industry that has one of the highest rates of substance abuse in the country.
By coming together, starting a dialogue and acknowledging that substance abuse often cannot be overcome in isolation or by willpower alone, Ben’s Friends hopes to write a new chapter in the lives of food and beverage professionals across the country.
“Back in September 2018, I turned to Ben’s Friends when I was trying to regulate my drinking, and I haven’t had a drink since. What I discovered was more than just a support group, it was a community," says Grant. "Ben’s Friends is a judgment-free zone where people in and around the restaurant industry can come together, be honest about their struggles and know they’ll be met with compassion rather than criticism. It’s about friendship, conversation and connection - no one should have to navigate the challenges of substance use and sobriety on their own.”
What started as one meeting in Charleston, SC has grown to a community of 20+ in-person and 15 online meetings, further fostering communities and meeting people where they are.
The Atlanta chapter, founded in 2021 and re-established in Fall 2024, meets weekly on Mondays at 11 AM at Pricci. Since its founding, the group has created a judgment-free, anonymous forum where chefs, servers, bartenders and others in the restaurant industry can come together, share openly and find strength in connection.
Meetings provide a place for honest conversation, encouragement and accountability, reminding members that they are not alone in their journey.